Corina Lupescu – a career divided

Interview with Corina Lupescu – a career divided between the Romanian National Opera and horse riding

People can easily observe the behavior and personality development of a child. Through everything they expose, externalize, and communicate, the child describes themselves in an unaltered form.

Corina Lupescu, a ballerina at the Romanian National Opera, was one of those children who expressed her personality and artistic inclinations with such ardor that nothing could “turn her around.” She followed her passion, only needing the intervention of skilled hands to refine the abilities with which “Mother Nature” endowed her.

Ballet represents a graceful form of dance that involves elegance, refinement, and fluidity in movement. What element excites you the most in your ballet career?

I am immensely happy that I have managed to turn my dream into my daily work. Thanks to this achievement, every second spent in the ballet studio brings me incredible satisfaction.

You were introduced to the world of ballet at a very young age. Tell us about the beginning of your journey in this fascinating world of dance.

During kindergarten, when I was just 3 years old, we were visited by a teacher who selected girls from the senior group to start practicing ballet. After the selection process was completed, and since she hadn’t even glanced at our group, I took the initiative to jump in front of her and started dancing. At that moment, she asked me, “What do you want?” and I confidently replied, “I also want to take ballet!”

Who are the people with the greatest influence on you?

The person who has always been by my side and supported me unconditionally in everything I set out to do is my mother. I am extremely grateful to her for the tremendous efforts she has made to help me fulfill my dreams.

The mentors who have left their mark on my development as a ballet artist are, in chronological order:

Christian Eliade Mindrs, the person who helped me become aware of and harness my artistic spirit and interpretation skills.

Rose-Marie Stocec Bot, the teacher of my heart, who whenever necessary, “lifted me off the ground” and brought back the sparkle in my eyes every time I heard classical music. She is not just a teacher but also a spiritual guide throughout the challenging years of high school.

Petruța Almosnino, the former ballet mistress at the Romanian National Opera. She worked with me in detail on every variation, emphasizing the correct and meticulous execution of each individual element with incredible patience and fascinating perseverance. Regardless of her own health condition, she always gave me the necessary attention.

Maestra Petruța Almonsnino is like a second mother to me, and I am honored to have had the pleasure of working with her and even forming a close friendship.

People are different and, automatically, they possess distinct behavioral and intellectual traits. What is your greatest asset as a ballerina?

My greatest asset as a ballerina is the passion and uncontrollable love for this form of movement.

The magic of the stage has enchanted those eager for recognition since ancient times. What is the performance that has brought you the greatest joy when being on stage?

The performance that has brought me immense satisfaction when being on stage is undoubtedly Giselle. Currently, I find joy in my soul and pleasure in movement in the majority of the pieces for which I step onto the stage of the Romanian National Opera as part of the ballet corps.

Ballet incorporates various dance styles. Which dance genre aligns with your personality, and what elements attract you?

Classical ballet has been, is, and will always be my great love, while character dance and neoclassical dance fulfill me as an artist.

Equestrian sport or the noble sport is your second passion, a passion that has captivated you to such an extent that you are currently a national champion in equestrianism. When and how did the love for horseback riding take root in you?

At the age of six, while on vacation in Bran, I had my first interaction with this noble sport. The moment I rode for the first time was defining for what was to come, wanting the friendship of these speechless animals, which I later earned.

How important is the connection and communication between you and your non-speaking friend, Star, in achieving this success?

The connection and communication between me and my four-legged equestrian friend have been essential in obtaining the champion title.

Passion and talent for a particular field require support to evolve. Who are the people who have given you credit and encouraged you in practicing equestrianism?

Since I started focusing more on equestrianism, I have been taken under the wing of Master Cezar Eugen Manolescu and Mrs. Dana Dogaru. They have taught me the secrets of equestrianism and encouraged me to discover the mystical universe of horses. The “Pony Express” team is like a second home to me, and the experiences I have had with them are precious. Master Cezar Manolescu saw “something” in me, an unstoppable love for these noble animals, and he gave me a horse as a gift, instructing me in the foundation of the relationship between humans and horses, and allowing me to experience this relationship on my own. Thus, I learned, made mistakes, and evolved alongside Star. With their uninterrupted support over the years, combined with my work and Star’s, we became national champions in Working Equitation in 2020.

How does ballet combine with equestrianism, and what is the bridge between these two forms of movement?

Ballet and equestrianism are two completely distinct arts, but there is a magical connection between them. One of the specific movements of ballet is “paducheval,” which means “horse step” in translation. Some time ago, I participated in a workshop led by a teacher from Russia, who proposed an imagination game where we had to imagine a horse moving majestically in a field and observe its leg movements as if they were our own leg movements. This inspired me to execute perfectly, with my legs, the elegant and suspended step of the horse. In this way, I successfully performed that particular movement. In horsemanship, ballet contributes to elegance, presence, and sometimes strength.